Also elected on the challenger’s “NY Union Proud” slate were Barbara
Ulmer, Wayne Bayer, and Wayne Spence.

The new slate takes over on Aug. 1

Ballots, which went out in the mail at the start of June and needed to be returned by Monday, have just been counted at the American Arbitration Association offices in New York City. They will be certified during the next few days.

The tally of about 16,000 votes represents a turnout of roughly one third, with just over 51,000 eligible voters.

Kent and Garcia ran on something of a “get tough” platform, criticizing Brynien and his slate for getting members to approve, on a second round, a contract without contractual raises for three of its four year term. In exchange they got some protections from what Gov. Andrew Cuomo said could have been about 3,500 layoffs in order to save money.

Some of the challengers struck a conciliatory tone on Tuesday though, with one of the winners saying he realized that many people voted for the challengers because they were angry about the current contract but said they hoped to provide positive reasons for winning the vote as well.

Here’s the official release which just came out from PEF headquarters:

Albany – Members of the New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) today elected Susan Kent of
Albany to the union presidency. The unofficial election results posted by the American Arbitration Association show Kent, who ran on the “NY Union Proud” ticket won with 8,739 votes, compared to 7,562 for Ken Brynien of Albany, who ran on the “Keeping Members 1st” ticket.
Members also elected Kent’s running mate, Carlos Garcia of Albany, over Joe Fox of Albany. by a vote of
8,111 to 8,063.
The membership elected three new vice presidents, who ran on the “NY Union Proud” slate. They are Barbara Ulmer of Albany, Wayne Bayer of Albany, and Wayne Spence of Hempstead.
There are also three new trustees as a result of the election. “NY Union Proud” candidates Maureen Kellman
of NYC, Kenneth Johnson of NYC, and Ronald Brown of Utica.
PEF members also elected James Moffitt of Valley Ridge from the “Keeping Members 1st” ticket as the new
regional coordinator in PEF Region 5, made up of Tompkins, Tioga, Delaware, Broome, Chenango and Otsego Counties. Nikki Brate of Albany, of the “NY Union Proud” ticket, was elected as regional coordinator in Region 8, made up of Albany, Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Green and Columbia Counties. Sheik Nabijohn, of NYC, of the “NY Union Proud” slate was elected as regional
coordinator in Region 10, comprised of Manhattan and the Bronx.
“I offer my congratulations to the New York Union Proud slate and wish them well as they take over the reins of the PEF leadership,” Brynien said.
The votes will be certified by the American Arbitration Association within the next couple of days.
PEF is the state’s second-largest state-employee union, representing 54,000 professional, scientific and
technical employees.